On 1 April, five activists of the Federation of Trade Unions of Burma (FTUB) were arrested in their homes in Rangoon, Burma, after attending the first National Congress of the FTUB as delegates. Without explanation and without being formally charged, the five were then released on 11 April following strong protests from the International Trade Union Federation (ITUC) and several other unions.

In a statement, the ITUC said it understands that the ILO was involved in the release.

The five included: Zaw Myint Aung, a teacher from South Okkalapa, Rangoon; Soe Oo, a textile factory worker from Shwe Pyi Thar, Rangoon; Maung Tun Nyein, another textile factory worker from Hlaing Thayar, Rangoon; Khine Lin Myat, a female worker at the UMH Textile factory; and Shwe Yi Nyunt, a nurse’s aide and law student, who is a member of FTUB’s Women’s Committee.

FTUB General Secretary Maung Maung

The ITUC’s appeal to global labour expressed the concern that the five may have been tortured while being detained. In its letter to Burmese military junta leader, General Than Shwe, the ITUC called FTUB a legitimate labour organization and said, “This latest act demonstrates once again the determination of the junta to block any form of democratic activity and to clamp down on any form type of dissent from its iron rule.”

FTUB General Secretary Maung Maung said: “The fact that our members were arrested just after returning from participating in the 1st National Congress of the FTUB” speaks for itself. The historic three-day FTUB Congress was held in a border area inside Burma, and the fact that courageous Burmese trade unionists conducted democratic proceedings inside highly repressive Burma is exemplary, the ICEM believes.